Apparatus for generating motive power from the movements of tides, waves, and the like movements of water.



No, 828,659. PATENTED AUG. 14, 1966.

' J. HUTGHINGS. APPARATUS FOR GENERATING MOTIVE PDWER FROM THE MOVEMENTS 0E TIDES, WAVES, AND THE LIKE MOVEMENTS OF WATER.

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V 3. EiETGI-HNGS. APPARATUS FOR GENERATING MOTIVE POWER FROM THE MOVEMENTS 0F TIDBS, WAVES, AND THE iIKE MOVEMENTS OF WATER.

APPLIOATIOK FILED 330.4,1905.

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N0- 828,659. PATBNTED AUG. 14, 1906.

J. HUTUHINGS. APPARATUS FOR GENERATING MOTIVB POWER FRQM THE MOVEMENTS OF TIDBS, WAVES, AND THE LIKE MOVEMENTS OF WATER.

APPLIUATION FILED 220.4, 1905.

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PATENTED AUG. 14, 1906 J. HUTGHINGS.

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828,659. PATENTBD AUG. 14, 1906 J- HUTGHINGS. APPARATUS FOR GEfiERATHQG MGTIVB POWER FROM THE MOVEMENTS UP TIDE3, WAVES; AND THE LIKE MOVEMENTS OF WATER.

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No 828.659. PATENTBD AUG; 14, 1906. J. HUTCHINGS. APPARATUS FOR GENERATING MUTWE POWER FROM THE MOVEMENTS OF TIDES, WAVES, AND THE LIKE MOVEMENTS OF WATER.

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UNITED sTA rEs PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HUTCIzHfiGSQOF LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING MOTIVE POWER FROM THE MOVEMENTS OF TIDS, WAVES, AND THE LIKE MGVEMENTS OF WATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 14, 1906.

Application filed December 4, 1905. Seriai No. 290.237.

To (LE1! w/w'm it IN/(Ly concern.-

Be it known that I, Jenn Hormones, en gineer, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 210 Moorgate Station Chambers, Mooriields, in the city of London, Eng land, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Motive Power from the Movements of Tides, Waves, or the Like Movements of i i 'atcr, of which the following is a specification.

In the generation of motive power it is customary to burn fuel products or other materials, such as gsses, fondriving engines or other motors or machinery or the like.

By this invention I provide meens'for obtaining motive power wherewith to drive engincs, meters, or the like from the movements oitides or waves in the ocean acting on fleeting bodieseither affixed to the bed or the bot-torn of the sea or other Waters, or held by a line from the sea coast or shore'while floating on the surface of same, or quite free in the open sea, in inland seas river estuaalso showing the means for anchorin rice, or tidal rivers, or lakes.

In the accompanying drawings, illnstret ing this invention, Figure 1 is a plan of'the foundation of the apparatus. 7 V tional elevation on the line A B of Figs. .1 5, 6, 8, and 9. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the upper portion of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of the power-buoy end it. 5 is a plan of the power-house oor. Fig. 6 is a ikc View showing the arrange ment of the machinery on the power-house floor. Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line C D, Figs. 2 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9. Fi 3 is a plan showing the lateral framing of t is beams of the power-house, and Fig. '9 is a plan iihis' tratlng-the details of the roof construction and footway of the powerhouse.

The apparatus for efiecting these objects mainly consists of four tubular columns i I, bored nto the bottom or the like by means of their diamond-fitted crown'boring-heads at H, a submerged surrounding foundation tank at G for holding concrete or other like material when necessary as e foundationsupport, brace-frame J, anchor ropes or rods or the like at R, anchor-liars R anchor-fittings S, anchor-buoys T, combined owe-rbuoy and water-tank Q, pendulous cy inders 'q; dynamo p, platform would represent the ed'usted Fig. 2 is a sec W end their cradles Y, gimbcl-rings X, cantaiivers u, grude-coilers b, guide-frames c, piston'rods V, a suspended house mclosing a power-roorn with floor and roof framin held and regulated to its position by chain 3 or other like attachment and carrying a. toothed rack and Archimedean worm c, bevel-geared pinicns t and their respective.

horizontal and Vertical shafts g and g, a

shaft g, s or-Wheels r and s, pipes L and i,

receiver receiver-pipesm turbines n and M, head-"car N N and d" and the bracing-girders with their fittings O.

To commence the generation of power after the above apparatus has been completely V erected, the com ined'buoy Q and its watercornpertment Q are lowered into the water and ultimately sunk to the required dc th in the manner hereinafter described to t e position shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 7, which,

taking, for example, the rise and fall of the tides st London Bridge, the liiie'n which osition at highest spring tide of t e divi ing-line of plate Q, Figs. 2, 3, end 7, between the airn oyQ and its water-compartment Q. In other words the lets-fine Q would be adjusted to he on a. evel with the water-line n supposing the operation to be performed during the highest spring tide which the line n represents the ievel of.

The line it represents high neap tides, the line it low neap tides, and the line 12. represents lowest sprin tides, Fig. 2.

When launche into the weter','iooththe air-buoy Q and the water-tank compartment Q may contain air. '5

To obtain an equality of pressure in the cylinders W W, it is necessary that thc'falh ing weight of the movin parts, consisting of the piston-rods V V, t e material forming the conihined'buoy Q, and its we tor-coin artthe weight of the anchor-r0 s R,

the anchor-ropes or the like at R, and the weight of the water in the water-compartrnent Q, should combined be e ual to the feet this adjustment of the balance of prcsi causes the piston-rods V V and their pistons sure, the water-coinpai'tmcnt Q" should contain suil'icient water to cause its submersion until the dividing-plate Q between the water-compartment Q" and the air-buoy Q is on a level with the high-water spring tides or H. W. S. T. water-line 1i. To cil'ect this with minute accuracy, the pipes Q and their valves n (Fig. 2, sectional view, Fig. 3, ele vation view) are fixed to the dividing-plate Q and top plate of the air-buoy Q with airtight joints. These pipes Q pass vertically through the air-buoy Q, thence are connected with the valves 11 By opening the valves 71 air is allowed to escape from the water-compartment Q, when water is admitted in its place through thebottom apertures n Fi s. 2 and 4, until the dividing-plate Q is on a W. S. T. level with the water-line it. When the dividingpla'te Q has been sunk to the said level with the water-line if, a certain amount of air may still be in the upper portion of the watercompartment at n", Figs. 2 and 7. The buoyancy of this air will be equal to the Weight of the material forming the combined buoy Q, the water-compartment Q, and the plistons and fittings resting upon the buoy at and, further, this material weight plus the'we'ight of the water in the watercompar tment Q will be equal to the buoyancy obtained by the confined air in the buoy Q. Thusa pressure is obtained inside the pendulous compression-cylinder V when the buoy Q rises equal to the pressure obtained when the buo falls through the weight of the material a ded to the weight of water in the water-compartment Q, and by drawinggflpr e e s saistg the. WP P ,w fi the tgll oompartment n through 'the valves n and the communicatingipes Q the equal pressure efficiency caused by the generating moving parts may be always minutely adjusted.

The air-buoy and water-compartments are divided into a number of compartments-say, for instance, twenty-twoby means of horizontal and vertical partitions, as at m and Q, Figs. 2, 4, and 7, riveted and calked jointed. These partitions act as braces or stays, and the water-compartments between them are connected in their top air-space portions at n b appropriate aperture-passages, as at m igs. 2 and 7.

The four piston-rods V V V V are connected to'the buoy Q by means of universal coupling-joints, as at V, by which both the iston rods V V and the buoy Q are enable( to move conjointly in varying angles from the horizon, both accommodatin themselves automatically to any accident position waves or tides or the like may cause the buoy Q and water-compartment to assume. Any such wave or tide movement of the water carrying the buoy Q and wator-compartment Q W to move up or down accordingly, in which event air is com )ressed, or water may be pumped a bg veo1i elow the pistonsmewithi Tllidpeii d trLous,cylindegjN, while they are held t o resist firmly the pressure or force of the moving pistons VW by the trunnions X X of the gin'1balbearing rings X and the cantalivers u. (Shown on Figs. 3, 6, 7, 8, 9.) Such movements of the water in which the buoy Q and water-compartment Q may be floating also causes the pendulous cylinders W to swing about the top and bottom ends, going through a horizontal circumradial area consistent with the pendulous movement in the vertical length of the cylinder W to and beyond the positions indicated by dotted lines at W W, swin ing on their gimbalbearing trunnions at 1% X which are held in turn by their cantalivers u. Thus when the piston 'W is lifted upward (by the wave or other movement of the buoy Q) sliding within the inclosing cylinders W the air contained in the cylinder W above the piston W is compressed and forced through suitable valves VV Fig. 7, into and throu l1 the conductingpipes L thence through t e flexible metallic or like union-tubes L and the conductingpipes L into the receiver K. During this upward movement of the piston W the intakevalves at W are automatically closed.

During the operation of lifting the piston VW air is automatically drawn into the lower portion below the piston W in the pendulous cylinder W at W through the pipes at W and suitable intake-valves at W Fi 7. When through the falling movements 0 the powerbuoy Q the piston-rings W are forced or drawn downward, sliding within the inclosing c linders W, the air contained in the cylinder V is compressed and forced through valves at V", thence up through the conducting-pipes L the flexible metallic or like union-tubes L, the conductingipes L, and into the receiver K. During t e time the power-buoy Q is drawing the piston W downward the intake-valves W are automatically closed; but meanwhile air is drawn in through the automatically-opening intakevalves WV into the cylinder W above the iston W (Shown in Figs. 6 and 7.) ile the power-buo Y Q is thus being moved by the water in whic it may be floatin it is anehored and held in a movable wor ing position by the anchor connections to the holding-ring R Figs. 2, 4, and 7, fixed to the anchor-bars R. The tension of the ropes or rods R or the like connections may be re ulated and governed by the swivel-shac is and screws atR, which may be screwed to tighten or loosen the connections. These anchor-rods R or the like are attached to and held into working position by the anchorbuoy T, which is made with riveted and calked joints, thus confining the air inclosed,

as ess and thereby ei'lectin r a buoyancy suiliciently strong to enable the )110 y to ride or llost eieery waves or tides and to carry the suspended holding-rods and fittings at S and R, which for the sake of buoyancy may be made of tobular material, surrounding the columns I I I I in the manner shown by the drawings.

To the hoo ed rod S, encircling the columns I I, are 'itted to work and revolve friction-rollers at w w, Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 7, which rollers enable the anchor-rod fittings R R,

. suspended fittin s R, and anchor-buoys T T power-buoy to move up or own as moved by waves or tides, the anchor-buoy T always carrying the fittings S and anchor-rods R or the like at a sufficient dc th below the bottom of the a and surface of the water as? to allow of free rolling action of the buoy Q,

while generating power, the anchonhuoy T always floating nearly on a level with the power-buoy Q, and working consistently with it, while holding the power-generating parts in their proper workin positions between the tubular columns I I 1.

One end of the holding-lines T Figs. 2, 3, and 4 is securely fastened to the (power-buoy Q. The other end is festene onto the hooped rods S, which encircle the tubular columns I. This holding-line T is provided to hold the power-buoy Q into its working position horizontally durin any uneven side or die onally-horizontal t ust which may uced by storm-waves against the pro be pro jecting angles or corners of the ower-buoy Q, causing it a tendency to revo ve horizonwhich pinion engage the teeth of a spur-wheel s, thereby turning it horizontal shaft Q3, on which is fixed the bevel-geared pair of s urwheels at t, and this vertical shaft and its fixed Archimcdcan worm c, whic 1 by engaging the teeth of a geared rack t Figs. 2 and 3, causes the house to be lifted or lowered or held firmly at any required height or level within the range of the rack t As a counterbalance for the lieving the strain that would otherwise be thrust onto the lifting-gear a, g, t, r, (1 and s and the toothed rack t' the liouseis hung on weights P by means of four strong chains or ropes or the like at P, which pass over the sprocket pulley-wheel N thence into the tubular columns I I I I, holding the suspended weights P". Thus when the house is lifted the weight P descends into the tubular, column I, and when the house is lowered the weight ascends, rising or fallin in the same roportion as the house is lifted or lowered hy the geared machinery, the guide-frames c and supporting-braces holdmg the guide-collars b, which are made with suflicient clearance between them and the columns; I to enable the collars b to slide freely up or down, while holding thepowerhouse in its working position at any desired altitude between the columns I, as shownin drawings Figs. 2, 3, 5, 6, 8.

W'henthe stored com ressed air in the receiver K is used as a mot ve power for driving an electric dynamo or, generating electric power, theair is admitted throu h the stoptall'y in either direction, (indicated by the orrow-points T T.) i

From the receiver K the stored 'cornpressed air may be drawn off to be utilized as motive power, and in connection withthis H be used, as here nefter' de apparatus it may 7 scribed, for lifting or lowering thepowerhouse, drivin electric dynamos or other machinery or tile like, or may be conducted through pi es to other points-for instance, to the seas ore for use as motive power, on land for driving railways, tramways, the machinery of factories or any other machiner Y or the like, or electric li hting of houses, vii lages, towns, cities, or the like, or for use on floating bodies, boats, large ships, docks, or the like, or for lighthouses enerating their own power to light, or in and bays, estuaries, ending-piers, or for blowing a very loud fog-horn, or for liquefying air by compression, or eneratin Hertzinn waves or other wave vi rations %or wireless telegrapzl ily.

on used for lifting or lowerin the powerhouse, the compressed air stor in the receivcr K'is admitted through the stop-cook at 1 into the conducting-pipes l, thence passing along into and working a reversible turbine or other like motor at q, whichpropels a toothed pinion r on a shaft g the teeth of about harbors,"

cock'mi (Fig. 6, plan view) into t 'e conducti 'ing pipes m, thence into a reversible air-turbine orother motor n, which in turn revolves or drgisltlie dynamo p. 7

Tlie apparatus is so arrengedothat the 'rnovements of the power-buoy Q and watercom artment Q during stormy weather will be a l within the wide sco e of movements obtained by the use of gim al-ring and trunnion bearings st X, X,- X Fig. 7, in 0011-;

jxpnction with the universal-joint couplings IIC and the means provided for lifting and lowering the power-house, which together;

allow the pendulous cylinders W, th'ejjfistonrods V, the power-buoy Q, and water-corm partment c ses within the limits and plajg eilowences provided y the anchor rods or ropes R, the holding-lines T" while generating power at any angle from the horizon up to the extreme ever reached. The four supporting 7 tuhuler columns at their top ends are fitted with the ferrule-caps d hosscd up on each side to form the bearings of the pulley-wheeis N 3 and fitted with flanges, as at d, for receiving the ends of bracing-girders O O.

The suspended power-house may have an eigl1t-sided figure, which with the roof forms a somewhat flat-sided semi-octahedron in exterior form. The lower portion of the power-house, consisting of the framing of its bottom, which carries the lloor and operating mach1nery,1s framed together by means of the iron beam (1, which forms a bearer upon which may be erected the angle-pillars /c" c" and the stud-posts 1c is, Fig. 5.

The beams cl 1;, big. 1, at y are shaped to permit of extreme movement, such as are produced by heavy seas on the power-buoy Q and the pendulous cylinder while working. The beam d constitutes the exterior shell or wall of the house-octagonal poly gonbraced and fixed to the radiating ends of said beams and their associated beams, which are cross-braced by other beams, and thereon is laid the floor of the house. Ir represents joists fitted between them, the whole being fixed and securely held together by top and bottom center plates at k", Figs. 5 and 7. The Wall of the power-house is formed by erecting and framing together an le-pillars k k and suitable intermediate stu -posts k, supported by window-sill and lintel stringers k, braces, and stays. These parts are all united by suitable straps, collars, and anglebraces, or the like riveted or bolted together. The top portion of the power-house, consisting of the framing of the said tie-beams and the cantaliver-beams "a, carrying the pendulous cylinders W, may be built together by means of suitable iron straps, braces, collars, angle-ties, or the like riveted or bolted to the top Wall-plate beam 11:, which is securely fixed upon the an le-pillars k and intermediate stud-posts k loy straps, collars, screwed bolts, rivets, or the like.

The exterior circumscribing beam be is braced and securely fixed to the radiating ends of the tie-beams y, 2, 22, and 2 and their similarly-associated or corresponding opposite beams, all of which are in turn crossbraced by the beams 11 and if, the whole bein held together by means of suitable straps, co lars, angle-plates united by rivets or bolts to top and bottom center plates at 2".

The power-house is covered by a roof trussed to the aforesaid tie-beams by means of a central king-post k, with two queenrods and two struts on either side supporting rafters, members of the roof, (numbered 3 to 18.) The feet of these rafters 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011 12 13141516 17 18,0f T-iron'or other suitable section, are secured on the tie-beams, While their head or top ends are securely fixed to the top of the king-post-receiving flanges k", Fig. 7. On the top side of these rafters purlins a a a a a" c a are securely fixed for the purpose of carryim suitable roof-covering of the powerhouse, Figs. 2, 7, and 9. The power-house king-bolt (shown at is Fig. 7) is suspended from the roof kingpost It, thence passed down through the tubular column, through the intersecting oint of the fioorbearers, and center plates The lower end of this king rod or bolt has a screwed nut, as at j Fig. 7, by turning braced The platform M, surrounding the powerhouse at its caves-level, Figs. 9 and 8, is provided to enable attention to be paid to the exterior of the power-house and the outside moving parts of the apparatus, including the trunnions X X of the gimbal-bearin s, the interior of the pendulous cylinders the pistons and rods W and V, respectively. The platform M is borne by suitable brackets under the floor-battens at 7" 1' j j j and M and M Figs. 8 and 9, at the an les of the house at k, Fig. 8, and at interva s between the cantaliverbeams u and the guide-frame beams 2 these brackets are made with pendent web-pieces having flanged heels abutting and fixed by screws to rest a ainst the exterior vertical face of the top wa l-beam w. The floor-battens g 9' g g g g? of the platform M surround said roof and rest upon brackets y" j and also on the top flanges of the cantaliverbeamsu and their braces and the guide-framesc and their braces. Ahandrail is fixed around the exterior boundary of s the platform M. may be hung in working position at different points around the power-house.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be perform cd, I declare that what I claim is 1. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a fixed structure, a superstructure, counterweighted compensating means of suspension between the fixed structure and the superstructure, a buoyant member suspended from said superstructure, adjustable flexible connections between said buoyant member and said fixed structure for retaining said buoyant member in horizontal relation with respect to the fixed structure, power-generating devices carried by said superstructure, and connections between said power-generating devices and said buoyant member for o )erating said. devices during the rising and falling of said member.

12. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a fixed structure, a superstructure, counterweighted compensating means of suspension between the fixed structure and the superstructure, a buo 'ant member, oscillatory cylinders carried y the superstructure, istons operating therein and connected wit 1 the buoyant member for suspending it and adapted to be operated during the rise and fall of said buoyant member, and adjustable connections between said Suitable movable stairs" IIO , operated by the rise and fall of said buoyant buoyant member and said fixed structure for I retaining said member in horizontal relation with respect to the said fixed structure.

3. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a buoyant member, a fixed structure, oscillatory air-compressors adapted to suspend said member and to be operated by the said member, and a counterweighted connection between said oscillatory air-compressors and said fixed structures.

4. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a fixed supporting structure, a movable suspended superstructure, counterweighted devices therefor, and means for adjusting the relative positions of the movable suspending superstructure with respect to the fixed supporting structure.

5. An apparatus of the character described, comprising supporting means, a counterweighted mova e element suspended from said means, a buoyant member, and power-generatin means carried by said movable element an suspending said buoy ant member, said power-generatin means member.

6. An apparatus of the character described, oomprising fixed supports, buoys connected with said supports, a buoyant member, flexible connections between said buoyant member and said buoys, a counter wei hted movable element suspended from sai supports, and power-generatin devices carried by said element and suspending said buoyant member, said devices operated by the rise and fall of said buoyant member;

'7. An apparatus of the character described, comprisin a supporting structure, means for fixing the lower ortion of said structure below the water-line, a counterweighted movable superstructure suspended from said supporting structure, buoys connected with said supporting structure, powergenerating devices carried by said movable superstructure, a buoyant member for'opcrating said power-generating devices, and flexible connections between said buoyant member and said buoys.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES, JOHN Coons How. 

